"The Marines' Hymn" is the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps and the oldest official song in the US Armed Forces, authorised for use by the Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1929. The lyrics for the hymn were written by an anonymous author prior to this and includes lines referencing famous battles such as "To the shores of Tripoli" referring to the First Barbary War and "The Halls of Montezuma" referencing the Battle of Chapultepec. The music, however, originates from the "Gendarmes' Duet" from Offenbach’s 1859 opera Genevieve de Brabant. Sammy Nestico, whilst best known as a composer, arranger, and conductor for the Count Basie Orchestra and as a prolific composer of television themes including shows such as M*A*S*H*, and Charlie’s Angels, was also the director of the U.S. Marine Band under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1968, Nestico took the original version of the hymn and revamped it in his own inimitable style giving us "Apotheosis - Marines' Hymn". "I give it my heart… a Marine’s heart" – Sammy Nestico

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Probably the most famous of all Christmas carols, this arrangement by Adrian Horn makes this well-loved work sparkle in a whole new light. With repeated bell calls throughout, this piece brings all the sounds of Christmas to you concerts. The melody, entitled "Cradle's Song" composed by the American born composer William J. Kirkpatrick is known worldwide and with this new arrangement, can play a feature role in your Christmas concerts.

Purchase via: Pennine Music £24.50

The ‘Bridal Chorus’ from Wagner’s Lohengrin has been a favourite entrance for brides world-wide to make their way up to the alter. This arrangement features a fanfare motif throughout and was written by Adrian Horn for his wife Elizabeth to walk down the aisle to.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £7.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $8.99

'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' is the hit song from Disney’s 1994 blockbuster animation The Lion King. With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, it became an instant classic and is reprised in both the Broadway/West End musical version and the 2019 remake. This arrangement, originally commissioned for use in a wedding ceremony, sticks closely to the original version, and should be playable by most levels of band.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Disney’s remake of the 1991 animated picture gave the chance for composer, Alan Menken to add new music to the already popular soundtrack. In the original film, it was felt the Beast was missing a major feature song. This was put right in the live-action remake with the song 'Evermore' which became an instant global hit. Now arranged for Euphonium and Brass Band, this is a great new modern solo that will find favour with audiences of all ages.

Purchase via: Pennine Music £29.50

The one-act ballet La Péri (1912) was Dukas’ final large-scale work dedicated to the French dancer Natalia Touhanova. Based on a Persian folk story it follows a prince’s search for the flower of immortality, and his falling in love with a sleeping fairy. As a last-minute addition before the premiere performance, Dukas added this fanfare as an introduction to the whole ballet. It is written in three parts with a grandiose opening, a gentler, more introspective middle, and a final return to the initial fanfare. N.B. the original version by Dukas did not include any percussion, as such the included snare drum and cymbals parts may be omitted if wished.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £7.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $8.99

British rapper, singer and songwriter Stormzy may be best known for his vocal freestyling over classic grime beats, but this beautiful ballad is gorgeous departure from his usual gritty rapping. With the help of harmony genius Jacob Collier (amongst others) in shaping this song, the orchestral version commissioned by Amazon Music, not unsurprisingly, also works for the brass band medium providing a simple melody over repeating, but complex harmonies, in the build to an unresolved finish that leaves people wanting more.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Give four of your fast-fingered principal players a chance to shine as a quartet with this arrangement of the famous 'Flight of the Bumblebee'. The four soloists work together as a team passing the melody between them with the band accompanying. Relatively under the fingers for the soloist, and a lot of fun to listen to!

Purchase via: Pennine Music £29.50

James Newton Howard composed this dynamic fanfare for the closing segment of the 1991 movie Grand Canyon (starring Danny Glover, Kevin Kline and Steve Martin). Whilst the film is now largely forgotten, the music remains a vibrant and powerful statement, and a great concert opener.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99

'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' is the 2001 hit song by French EDM duo Daft Punk. In 2016, Daniel Jeakins wrote for HuffPost "For all the gifts electronic deities Daft Punk have bestowed upon pop music, no track feels quite as iconic or ingenious as 'Harder Better Faster Stronger' ... Fifteen years on from its release and it’s hard to think of a dance track that’s as prominent in popular culture or influential to modern electronic music." Whilst electronic dance music is not often associated with the sound of brass bands (with the exception of Jeremy Deller’s/Fairey Band’s Acid Brass), this arrangement might just have your audiences busting some moves on the dance floor!

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Disney’s take on the story of Rapunzel saw veteran Disney composer, Alan Menken score the film and from it, came the hit, ‘I See The Light’. A lyrical ballad, out of all the tracks produced for the film, Alan stated that this was his favourite of them all. This arrangement, written for Ben Bradley, Principal Cornet of Silk Brass Band, is perfect for soloists looking to perform something popular with general audiences of all ages.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: Pennine Music £29.50

The tune "Cranford" composed by Gustav Holst is the most popular choice for the lyrics to "In The Bleak Midwinter". This arrangement by Adrian Horn has taken this gem of a melody and added a different dimension to the work. Short fanfares and a military take on this well loved carol work together perfectly to bring you something different for your Christmas program.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: Pennine Music £24.50

Arranged to show off the prowess of Silk Brass' Solo BBb Bass player, Stephen Bridgehouse, this version of 'Jump In The Line (Shake Señora!) - made famous by Harry Belafonte (and not forgetting the film Beetlejuice) - , showcases the fun side of the brass band Bass player. With parts for either Eb or BBb bass soloist, it is sure to be a hit in any brass band concert!

Click to view PDF of Eb Bass soloist part
Click to view PDF of BBb Bass soloist part

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Although released on Seal’s eponymous second album Seal II (1994), ‘Kiss From A Rose’ was actually written back in 1987. Seal wasn’t overly fond of the song and hadn’t put it forward for his first album, but producer Trevor Horn got hold of it for the second album and turned the song into a track that sold 8 million copies worldwide. It also garnered extra fame in 1995 when it was used as part of the soundtrack to the film Batman Forever, helping it top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and pushing back up to No.4 in the UK charts.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

First heard in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, ‘Knights of the Round Table’ was revamped for the Monty Python musical spectacular ‘Spamalot’ where it is sung by the jolly (and rather silly) Knights of Camelot, the song describes their hobbies and other un-knightly activities…

This arrangement carries on with silliness and gives your percussion team chance to take on a coconut solo (although this may be played on the shells of the drum kit if no coconuts are available!) and your principal Eb Bass player to the chance to flex his/her vocal chords with the classic line 'I have to push the pram-alot'!

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

From the hit 2011 film 'The Muppets', this arrangement captures the fun and frolics of 'Life's A Happy Song' - the tune regularly heard at the start of Sara Cox's Radio 2 'DriveTime' show. This version features many members of the band, with 'Standing' sections written for nearly all the players at various points and culminating in the whole band stood up at the big finish. A great way to close the 1st half of a concert!

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

This arrangement, originally commissioned for a wedding, is the main theme from the animated Disney/Pixar film 'Up'. With much of this music used during the opening few minutes of the film, as we get a brief look at the life of married couple Carl and Ellie Frederickson from young lovers to an old couple, before the main adventure of the film really starts.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Commissioned by Kevin Gibbs and the Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Band this arrangement features the flugel, solo horn, 1st baritone and solo euphonium as a quartet at the front of the band. The quartet plays the first verse alone, with the band joining in on the second verse bringing the arrangement to climax, leaving the quartet to bring the music back down to a quiet finish. The perfect addition to any contest or concert program

Purchase via: Pennine Music £24.50

Originally commissioned for the Macclesfield Youth Brass Band, this arrangement of the Rick Astley classic ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ takes the melody in a slightly darker, mysterious direction to start with, before allowing you to ‘RickRoll’ your audience once the verse and chorus hit! With a full sounding finish, this is a great way to open the 2nd half of a concert.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

‘No Time To Die’ (2021) is the twenty-fifth in the James Bond series of motion pictures. Starring Daniel Craig in his final outing as Bond, the film’s theme the song of the same name was written and performed by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. This arrangement features the soprano cornet or tenor horn as the soloist, and reflects on both the simplicity and intensity of the original performance’s vocals.

Click to view PDF of soloist part

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

The Rolling Stones hit song 'Paint It Black' arranged for British style Brass Band. A superb opener for any concert, this arrangement starts with a a big opening fanfare before falling into an up-tempo romp through the classic song. Has been used in prize-winning performances at Bolsover Festival of Brass and Wychavon Festival of Brass, and has been recorded by the Vernon Building Society Brass Band on their CD 'The Anson'.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Avengers: Endgame (2019) is the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film features many of the Marvel characters including Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye. ‘Portals’ is probably the most talked-about sequence in the film where Captain America finds himself facing Thanos and his entire army alone until help eventually arrives. What truly made this scene such a hit with audiences was the music by composer Alan Silvestri, with its slow build-up and incorporation of the original Avengers theme as help arrives. This arrangement for brass band captures the dramatic, exciting moment in the film.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99

This band feature begins as only a drinking song could do, with a trombone trio taking the lead! The song was composed by the English song writing team, James Campbell and Reginald Connelly under their pseudonyms, Hal Swain and Irvin King during a train journey, prior to which, they had enjoyed a few drinks! Arranged originally for the VBS Poynton Band, this is a great showcase arrangement of a modern classic featuring all sections of the band and giving the soloists a chance to shine. Great entertainment value.

Purchase via: Pennine Music £29.50

Mulan (1998) was a return to Disney's tried and tested method of having a broadway composer work on the films songs and a more serious composer to take on the score. Jerry Goldsmith took on this role, with his bold score using very little material from the songs, however he did incorporate some of their ideas into this suite giving a great taste of the Oscar nominated score.

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $24.99

‘The Free Lance’ march uses themes taken from Sousa’s operetta of the same name. As there were so many march tunes within his operetta, Sousa tried to include them all within this march, thus giving it a longer and more unusual construction than found in most of his marches. The trio of the march is the song ‘On To Victory’ from the operetta. A name under which the march has also been published at various times. The operetta itself is about Sigmund Lump, a mercenary who hired himself out as leader to two opposing armies. He manoeuvred both armies so that neither could win, eventually declaring himself as emperor of both nations!

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £8.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $9.99

This show stopping arrangement of the famous traditional Irish Folk Tune is the perfect showcase for bands looking to add something impressive to their concert or entertainment contest programmes. For those familiar with Peter Graham’s ‘Gaelforce’, Adrian Horn’s take on The Little Beggarman is of a similar vein complete with a lovely slow middle movement. The two outer movements are full of excitement and a great workout for your band’s ensemble playing. One audiences will love.

Purchase via: Pennine Music £29.50

The Polar Express was a festive box office hit back in 2004. Featuring an animated Tom Hanks as the train conductor, it follows the story of a young boy, Billy, who embarks on an extraordinary train journey to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus, however his life takes a turn after he encounters special people that make his journey memorable.

The film’s soundtrack was composed by Alan Silvestri and this suite features four of the melodies:
BELIEVE, THE POLAR EXPRESS, WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES TO TOWN and SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £25 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $25

Barbie (2023) is a hit comedy film based on the eponymous fashion dolls Barbie and Ken. Starring Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, it follows the duo on a journey of self-discovery through both Barbieland and the real world. Receiving the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2024, ‘What Was I Made For?’ was written by Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for the film and it received universal acclaim, with many critics regarding it as one of the best songs of 2023, noting that the metaphors in the lyrics parallel Barbie’s plot beautifully. This arrangement allows your solo cornet or flugelhorn player to become Barbie themselves with its beautiful melody line and gentle accompaniment.

Click to view PDF of Cornet/Flugel soloist part

Listen via: Youtube

Purchase via: SheetMusicDirect (PDF) £23.99 SheetMusicPlus (PDF) $24.99